Guildford: Sue Stedman in expansion plan
Corporate clothing specialist Sue Stedman has marked its 20th anniversary with the roll-out of an expansion programme which has seen the business upgrade its warehousing and logistics operations.
In addition, the company is investing in a new wardrobe management system from Prima Solutions, to enable the business to automate stock requirements and manage the allocation and servicing of individual wearers.
The investment in Prima Solutions’ PrimaNet Wardrobe Management tools enables the team to deliver improved roll-out control of garments, enhanced order tracking, stock control monitoring and individual tracking of wearer allowances and entitlements.
As a direct result of the investment, Sue Stedman has secured new business in the luxury products industry where wardrobe management was a distinct requirement of the high profile client.
Formed in 1989 by Sue Stedman, the company has grown to become a well-respected name in the corporate clothing and uniform business and ongoing demand for its services has also seen the company expand into larger, purpose-made warehousing in Northampton which enables the business to hold a greater amount of stock for clients, in addition to offering a range of new services.
Sue Stedman, founder and director, said: “I am extremely proud to reach our 20th anniversary and to announce the expansion of our logistics and fulfilment arms of the business. The new warehouse not only enables us to stock in excess of 15,000 units at any one time, it also houses an alterations room so adjustments can be made to our clothing onsite, plus there is a steam unit so garments can be delivered crease-free and ready to wear.
"In addition, the Prima Solutions’ software enables us to fulfil large orders and individually track the requirements for every one of our clients’ staff members. It gives us a competitive edge by delivering huge efficiencies and a streamlined, professional service to our clients. At any time, we are able to see what garments we have in stock and so can fulfil our client’s needs with ease. John Norman, managing director of Prima has been particularly helpful in ensuring the system was adapted to suit our specific requirements, which we were also very impressed with.”
The PrimaNet solution is designed to offer a fully-managed service that oversees the entire lifecycle of client garments, from specification, design and manufacture through to stock control, logistics, collections, exchanges, repairs and replacement. It provides detailed performance reports and integrates with existing systems, including finance applications to automate much of the invoicing process.
Stedman added: “We have seen many changes in the industry over the last two decades, from changes in styling to dressing down in the workplace and back again. In today’s climate, the trend is very much towards tailored dressing and businesses are looking to partner with a corporate clothing specialist who can not only create interesting, bespoke designs but can deliver ongoing servicing to ensure staff members have the right garment allocation for their jobs. Our investment in new warehousing, logistics and fulfilment means we are well placed to support the ongoing future needs of any business – large or small – with their complete uniform requirements.”
